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Agfa wants to sustain its world leader position in graphics and healthcare applications. Therefore continuous improvements are required, not only in product portfolio but also in research methodology. In this context the use of the right R&D tools, such as the Kibron Delta-8 high throughput screening device, is highly recommended. Dr. Guido Desie, Project Manager High Throughput Screening, Agfa-Graphics-R&D-HTS, AGFA-GEVAERT |
Surface tension determines the performance of inks
Surfactants are the key constituents in printing inks, their correct choice and concentration being critical factors to product performance. There is currently an increasing demand to improve print quality on a range of segments such as industrial inkjets, textiles, lithography, screen printing, and printing on more diverse and complex media, including a variety of plastics.
Added to an ink formulation, the properties such as optimal wetting and stable drop formation have to be ensured by adjusting the surface tension of the base product. In addition to surfactants, the formulated systems include components as dyes or pigments, dispersants, humectants and solvents, many of which themselves affect the surface characteristics of the final product.
Because of the above, a large number of complex ink formulations are required. The key question is, how to optimize the choice and amount of surfactants and other ingredients, while improving product performance.
High throughput determination of surface tension
The Kibron Delta-8 allows for cost effective high throughput experimenting of a vast number of surfactants and their combinations, yielding key parameters by which you can optimize and improve your product formulations. Surface tension can be measured 100 times faster compared to conventional methods, using a fraction of sample material. The Kibron Delta-8 allows you to reduce the design time of your products, reduce labor expenses and material costs to facilitate early pipeline products. This all adds up to better products and competitiveness with increased profit margins.
Ink Development
Development and quality control of ink formulations
Surface tension is one of the most important physical properties of inks which determines parameters such as droplet size and substrate adhesion. Static surface tension is an important property of inks, determining ink meniscus recovery and drop formation from the printhead nozzle. For example, a low surface tension can result in excessive nozzle faceplate wetting leading to poor ink ejection, thereby affecting jet reliability. On the other hand a high surface tension can lead to insufficient faceplate wetting, which may compromise droplet formation and ejection.
Kibron EZ-Piplus
EZ-Piplus is the best tool for the characterization of ink formulations in development or for ensuring the quality of your final product . EZ-Piplus is fast and easy to use, requiring no special training. The measurement is completed in less than 30 seconds, with a clear digital readout for surface tension values. The standard cuvette volume is only three milliliters. The single-use cuvettes ensure accurate results, eliminating the risk for contamination.
Quality Control
Ink quality control
The measurement of surface tension is a important element evaluating printability and wetting of the inks. In time-critical process such as spray painting and inkjet printing monitoring dynamic surface tension is important. As a quality control test procedure Kibron tensiometers offers sophisticated tools for monitoring static surface tension or surface tension at varying surface ages.
Recommended instruments:
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Delta-8Kibron Delta-8 is a unique high throughput surface tension plate reader, for e.g. HTS screening of critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of surface active materials. |
EZ-PiplusKibron EZ-Piplus is a new single channel tensiometer. Kibron EZ-Piplus's full potential comes into action when pairing it up with a laptop. It is light-weight, robust and well suited for on-site measurements. |